Bayley walked to Southern Cross, and while working there a few months later heard that gold had been discovered about to the east. Bayley kept this in mind and determined some day to prospect the area himself. In January 1889 he went to the Nullagine diggings and Roebourne in the Pilbara. He had some success, and after returning to Perth, returned to Southern Cross. Hearing that gold had been found on the Ashburton, Bayley returned to the north and found good gold at Ford's Creek. While prospecting the Murchison River he found Bayley's Island in Lake Austin which also yielded good returns. Back at Southern Cross in mid-1892, Bayley encountered a prospector he had met previously in Queensland, William Ford, who had also heard of gold being found to the east. In June, the two men set out from Southern Cross with five horses to find it. Soon after reaching an area known as Fly Flat, Bayley and Ford found a nugget, and within a few days had picked up about of gold. After more rich alluvial gold was found, the two men were compelled to return to Southern Cross for supplies. On returning to the field a quartz outcrop with gold in it was found, which became the famous Bayley's Reward mine. The two men returned to Southern Cross with 554 ounces of gold, worth £2,200, which they showed to the warden, J. M. Finnerty, on 17 September 1892. A reward lease of was granted to them, and on 20 September 1892 the Coolgardie field was declared open. There was a tremendous rush to the field from Southern Cross, much gold was found, and in a few years Coolgardie was a thriving town. Bayley's reward claim proved to be a very profitable one indeed, and was continually worked until 1963. During the 70 years of its existence this mining claim recovered over 500,000 ounces of gold.
Late life
Bayley and Ford sold their claim to a company for £6000 and a sixth interest and Bayley, having returned to Victoria, took up land near Avenel, and lived in prosperous circumstances. Though a strong athletic man he fell into ill health, possibly on account of privations he had suffered while a prospector, and died at Avenel of congestion of the lungs on 29 October 1896. He left a widow but no children.
